Head of People Operations – Europe

Hempel A/S

. Lead and develop the regional People Operations team supporting employees and managers across multiple countries .

Posted 11/9/2026full-timeGdansk • PolandLeadWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates expertise in HR Operations, Payroll Administration, and Employee Lifecycle Management within a multinational environment, while driving process improvement and ensuring compliance with local regulations. Strong leadership and stakeholder management skills are essential for enhancing operational excellence and employee experience.

Highest-signal resume keywords

HR Operations ManagementPayroll AdministrationWorkday ProficiencyProcess ImprovementPeople Leadership

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

HR OperationsPayroll GovernanceEmployee Lifecycle AdministrationCompliance ManagementProcess StandardizationData Quality GovernanceHR Information SystemsService Delivery InitiativesContinuous ImprovementMultinational HR Experience

Soft Skills

Stakeholder ManagementCommunication SkillsOrganizational SkillsCustomer-Focused ApproachCoaching and Developing Teams

Tools & Technologies

WorkdayHR Systems

Industry Keywords

People OperationsShared ServicesOperational ExcellenceEmployee ExperienceHR Policies

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Lead and develop the regional People Operations team supporting employees and managers across multiple countries
Oversee HR operations and payroll governance, ensuring compliance with local regulations and company policies
Drive process standardization, continuous improvement, and operational excellence across the People Operations function
Lead the transition towards a unified payroll vendor model across the region
Ensure accurate and efficient employee lifecycle administration, including joiner, mover, and leaver processes
Oversee data quality and governance within Workday and other HR systems
Partner closely with People Partners, Finance, and Centers of Excellence to support business needs and people initiatives
Manage relationships with external vendors and ensure high-quality service delivery
Support the development and implementation of HR policies, procedures, and knowledge resources
Drive initiatives that enhance efficiency, reduce operational risk, and improve the employee experience

Requirements

What you’ll need

Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field
Extensive experience in HR Operations, Shared Services, Payroll, or a related HR function within a multinational environment
Proven people leadership experience, including coaching and developing teams
Strong knowledge of HR processes, payroll administration, compliance, and employee lifecycle management
Experience working with Workday and HR information systems
Experience driving process improvement, transformation, or service delivery initiatives
Strong stakeholder management and communication skills
Excellent organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities
A continuous improvement mindset and a strong customer-focused approach
Fluency in English, both written and spoken

Benefits

Comp & perks

A leadership role with broad international exposure across 20 countries
The opportunity to drive operational excellence and transformation initiatives
A collaborative and supportive culture based on trust, teamwork, and continuous learning
International working environment with diverse stakeholders and cross-functional collaboration
Learning and development opportunities through our internal learning platform
Hybrid work model with up to 2 days of home office per week
Annual bonus
Private healthcare package fully funded by the company
Group life insurance
Benefits cafeteria, including a co-funded Multisport card
Additional paid long holidays